Obviously, this could sway elections, ruin reputations, and create general havoc.

The article observes that once people are aware of “deepfake,” they will wonder if what they’re watching is real or contrived. It’s an uncomfortable position to be in.

Lies, lies, and more lies

Satan, whom Jesus called “the father of lies” (John 8:44), has been up to his deceptive tricks ever since Eden.

“You surely shall not die,” he assured Eve, causing her to doubt her Creator’s warning that eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil would cause them to “surely die” (Genesis 2:17).

Eve took the bait and suffered the consequences.

Haven’t we all?

Masters of disguise

The Bible provides us with all the resources we need to keep from being duped by Satan.

Paul warns against “false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness . . .” (2 Corinthians 12:13-15a).

In other words, we can’t afford to believe everything we hear from the pulpit, from a religious leader, or from any book, tract, or media source purporting to teach the Scriptures.

How to spot spiritual counterfeits

Perhaps the best example of how to detect religious truth from error is to use the Berean approach. The Jews of Berea listened with an open mind to what Paul preached, but before they accepted it, they checked it against God’s “yardstick.”

“. . . they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:10-12).

As a result of their diligent study, they concluded that what Paul taught was indeed the truth.

Time and again the spell-check on my computer has alerted me to a misspelled word.

Imagine, though, a computer for religious writers and for preachers preparing their sermons, equipped with a doctrine-check and a heresy-detector. If the writer commits a theological error, the computer beeps a warning.

Sounds unbelievable? You’re right. There’s no such thing—as far as I know.

But what if there were? Can you imagine trying to program a doctrine-check applicable to everyone? Would there have to be a different program for each denomination? And since many churches have liberal and conservative factions, would there have to be a doctrine-check designed for each?

Is there a standard?

Who has the authority to say what is true doctrinally and what is false? Is there a right and wrong? Or is it all relative? Does each of us have the freedom to decide what to believe? Is there no standard?

Paul writes, “Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13).

Also Paul warns, “. . . there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” (Galatians 1:7-8).

If there is no doctrinal standard, then what Paul says here makes absolutely no sense.

How do we determine the truth?

Even Paul was subject to a doctrine-check. When he preached at the Berean synagogue, the Jews there “were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the scriptures daily to see whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).

Note the measuring stick the Bereans used to determine if what Paul taught was the truth.

Whenever we hear sermons from the pulpit or on TV or radio, and whenever we read articles such as this one, let’s do a doctrine-check, as the Bereans did: “to see whether these things were so.”

Jesus’ challenge

On several occasions in interacting with the hostile chief priests, scribes, elders, Pharisees, or Sadducees, Jesus countered them with this question: “Have you not read…?” or “Have you never read…?” (Matthew 12:3, 5; 19:4; 21:16, 42; 22:31).

In each case He referred them to a specific teaching in their Scriptures (the Old Testament).

From this we may conclude….

Jesus placed tremendous importance on the Scriptures as the authoritative word of God.

Jesus expected people to be familiar with the Scriptures.

He demonstrated that religious error should be challenged by the Scriptures.